Dogs,Dogs Wonderful Dogs!

If you are reading this article, then I would guess that you are a person like me in the fact that you love dogs! Perhaps more specifically, your own dog or a past dog that was a big part of your life. Dogs are without a doubt the most popular type of house pet in the entire civilized world. And for good reason.
I cannot imagine my life being 'dog-less'. I grew up with dogs. All of my childhood memories involve the family dog that we had at that time. I have fond memories of our Wired Hair Terrier that we four children got as a suprise Christmas present from our parents when I was nine years old. She came into our lives on Christmas morning with a red satin ribbon tied around her nine week old neck. My mother christened her 'Chrissy Noel' in commeration of the day she joined the family.
Then there was Lizzy, the wonderful Collie pup that we rescued in a blizzard. Some horribly mean spirited person had driven the entire litter of puppies into our small town early one morning, in hopes, we assumed, that the towns' people would take pity on the poor, shivering puppies and give them homes. Thankfully it did happen, as every one of the six puppies were adopted by people doing their banking or shopping that cold winter morning. Lizzie was a fixture in our home for 14 years. We got another dog when Lizzie was about 8 years old-a scruffy black 'mop' named Archie. Lizzie immediately saw to it that Archie would not drink out of the in-ground swimming pool, as he loved to do. When he bent down and leaned over the edge of the pool, Lizzie would run over to him, walk in between him and the pool and force him away from the water!
Dogs. Such fine memories. I plan on always having a dog in my life as long as I am mobile and have the capacity to care for him or her and provide the necessary daily exercise that dogs need. I never get tired of meeting a new dog when I'm out on a stroll with my little Papillon, Yorkie mix. I love watching young puppies romping and play in the fall leaves, or tire when being walked on the leash, and just simply sit or lay down because they are 'pooped out'.
Dogs. Gotta love 'em! I have yet to meet a dog that I didn't like. Unfortunately I cannot say the same about people! I never really 'get it' when a person says that they don't like dogs. How could that be? Why? Dogs love us no matter what. They are loyal until the end. They look to us for everything and depend on us to feed and care for them and love them. What's not to like about that?
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Dogs,Dogs Wonderful Dogs!

The Importance of Grooming Your Dog

If you are the proud owner of a dog, (and I say proud because I know that all people who own dogs are very proud of their four-legged friend), then it is absolutely essential that you keep your dog clean and healthy.
Dogs need to be groomed on a regular basis. This includes regular brushing which will keep the fur from matting or tangling, and will also remove the dead hair from your dog's coat. You can purchase a good quality dog brush at any pet store. Be sure you get a brush that is made for the type of hair or fur you dog has. You can ask the shop attendant for assistance in choosing the brush if you are unsure.
Dogs do not necessarily need to be bathed so terribly often. This all depends on how dirty your dog gets. I own a mixed breed between a Yorkie and a Papillon and she only requires to be bathed every few months. We live in the city and walk mostly on groomed trails and sidewalks, so she stays relatively clean.
Do use a shampoo that is made specifically for dogs. These too can be found at pet stores. Dog shampoos are created with your pet in mind and will not irritate their skin like some shampoos that are made for humans can. Be sure to put some cotton swabs just inside the dog's ear cavity when giving him a bath, to stop water from entering the inner ear, which could lead to an inner ear infection.
Part of a regular grooming routine for you dog should include regular clipping or trimming of the claws. Keeping the claws trimmed will, for one, be more comfortable for your dog, plus it will prevent the claws from curling and possibly growing into the pads of the paw. Some breeds have an extra claw a bit higher up on the front legs. These are called 'dew claws' and it is essential that these be trimmed also, as a long dew claw can easily grow into the skin of the leg of your dog.
You must be very careful when trimming your dog's claws so as not to take off too much of the tip, for if you trim too far down, it will create pain and some bleeding. There are some really great claw clippers/trimmers available in pet stores that make the job easier. If you do not feel comfortable trimming the claws, call your local dog groomer and make a quick appointment. You need not pay more than around five dollars for this service. Ask your groomer to show you how to safely trim the claws.
Dogs like to be clean and well cared for, just as we humans do. Your dog depends on you to keep him clean and healthy, so do not neglect the hygiene of your best friend!
Written by Cin Rupp. Come and visit my blog and see some really cute photos of Maggie!http://mycutemutt.blogspot.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Cindy_Rupp

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The Importance of Grooming Your Dog

Want Companionship? Get Yourself a Pet!

If you want a companion or a little company in your home, consider buying a pet. There are many types of pets to choose from and you should choose your pet to fit into your lifestyle and the size of your home.
If you live in an apartment building, getting a dog may not be your first best choice. Dogs must be taken outdoors several times a day, and if you leave home to work, your dog will be left alone in your apartment and will become lonely, may disturb the neighbors with barking, plus you will need to hire someone to come and take your dog out for walks while you are away.
There are several other pets that would do well living in an apartment. A cat can live happily indoors all it's life and can be left alone for longer periods of time. Having a hamster or other some animal is also an alternative. Birds make great pets for apartment dwellers as well, and provide company. It is nice to start the mornings off with a sweet bird song!
Having an aquarium filled with colorful fish is cheerful, and it is said that an aquarium provides a calming affect to people. Aquariums come in all sizes and shapes, so an aquarium would be a perfect choice for a person living in an apartment.
If you live in a house or share part of a house, a dog or a puppy would be a good choice. Dogs need space and adore being outdoors, so if you have a little patch of grass, your dog will be very pleased.
It is known that pet owners live longer then people who do not own a pet. Pets provide company to people and they depend on you to take care of their basic needs. Once you have chosen your pet, visit your local pet store to buy the necessary pet supplies tailored to your new friend.
Written by Cindy Rupp

http://mycutemutt.blogspot.com/ Best Top-Quality Pet Supplies!

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Want Companionship? Get Yourself a Pet!

Choosing Treats For Your Dog

We usually feed our dogs the same dog food every day. Dogs enjoy having a bit of variation in their diets, and there are an lot of dog treats available on the market. It can be a bit confusing choosing a good treat for your dog.
Many supermarkets offer dog treats in their pet aisles. If you check the ingredient list on the package, this may aid you in deciding what treat to choose. You want to give you dog only treats that are healthy and should avoid low priced treats, as the quality is often on the low end.
Many of these cheaper dog treats that are for sale in grocery stores and discount chain stores, unfortunately contain a lot of artificial ingredients and chemicals. It may be a wiser choice to shop online for a high quality dog treat that contains only natural ingredients. Pet shops also have top quality treats and the shop owners or clerks are well-informed and can assist you in choosing a good treat for your dog.
If your dog is older and not as active as he or she used to be, it may be wise to choose a treat that is low in fat. Another dog treat option is finding a 'chew stick' that is made to clean the dog's teeth as he or she chews. Dogs have a tendency to get a buildup of plaque on their teeth just like humans do, and if you do not brush your dog's teeth (many dog owners do not) then most vets will advise dog owners to provide this type of chew treat to their pets.
Your dog will be happy getting a bit of variation and you will be happy knowing that you made a wise choice.

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Choosing Treats For Your Dog

WALKING THE PUP ON A LEASH

It is important from an early age to put a collar on your pup to get him/her used to it. Do not, however, leave the collar on the puppy if she is un-attended to to avoid the risk of an accident. If a dog is startled or becomes upset, they can sometimes ‘choke’ on the collar by getting it caught in their mouth or accidently get it caught on something which could cut off their air supply. We would attach a lightweight leash to our 9 week out while she was in the yard with us and simply let her drag it around for a few minutes to get used to having something attached to her and then approach and gently pick up the leash handle and gently lead her around the yard, enouraging her to come with us. We then began slowly leaving the yard with Maggie on the leash and taking walks around the complex. We used an harness for walking-we felt that since she was so small that a harness provided security and we didn’t really feel comfortable using a collar on that tiny neck. We bought a ‘no pull’ type harness on Ebay. The leash clip is on the front of the harness, so when Maggie would begin to pull ahead and the leash became taunt, it automatically forced her to turn around to face us-hence stopping the pulling. Note that this type of harness is for training purposes only (as it could easily slip off) to teach the dog to break the pulling habit. We highly recommend this type of harness. It proved to be very effective while training our small dog not to pull. There were times when we would use the training harness again as she sometimes would revert back to trying to get ahead and pull on her regular harness. Only after a day or so with the no-pull harness training it was back to the regular harness once again!
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WALKING THE PUP ON A LEASH

Picking The Right Food For Your Pet

Pets are great to have and to share our lives with, and they require just as much care as humans do in order to be healthy and happy and to live a long life. All pets need to be fed properly, and we often have the question of what is the best food for our pets to get from us. There are many people who give their pets human food, while others believe this is wrong and only feed their pets with pet food. We will concentrate on dogs here since this is a dog related blog. Is it wise to feed your dog human food?
Dogs are related to the wolf family which are strictly carnivourous, which means they eat mostly the flesh from other animals. This does not mean, however that human food is the correct food for them. It is best to find a dog food product where the first ingredient is meat. Make sure it is real meat and not some kind of a meat substitute. Feeding your dog only human food is not really a great idea because it can be too greasy for them and can block their arteries and they need a well balanced diet. A good dog food has a great balance of meat, grains, vitamins and fiber.
Dogs have very sensitive digestive tracks and can get diarrhea quite easily and upset stomachs if there are changes made to their diet. It is best to find a quality dog food that is healthy for them. Your vet can recommend a good food for your dog if you find it confusing.
It is also a good idea to keep them on the same food as changing food too often can cause problems for your dog. If you feel you need to change food, you should slowly mix the new food in with the old until you have fully replaced the old over a few weeks.
Dogs should get varying amounts of food each day, depending on their activity level and their size. Most dog food packages have guidelines regarding this.
Choosing the correct food for your dog is important to ensure that your dog will live a long and healthy life.
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Picking The Right Food For Your Pet

Teaching Kids And Pets To Co-Exist Peacefully

It is possible for children and pets to coexist together under the same roof? Many people believe that small children and dogs are not a good combination. They fear that the dog will not get along with the new child and that the dog may hurt the child in some way. This need not always be the case, and if you take the time to correctly introduce your dog to your children, your kids and pets can live in harmony and become the best of pals!
One of the biggest concerns that many parents have when it comes to dogs in the home is how it will react to a new baby. The fact is tha most dogs readily accept a new child into the home and become loyal and very protective over the baby, as they view the child as a part of the family unit.
You should introduce your pet to your new baby slowly and be sure that you are always in the room. Allow your dog to sniff your child at his or her own pace. Make the introduction pleasant for your dog. Sometimes the dog will not give a new baby a second thought!
Allow your dog time to adjust to the new family member on his or her own terms. When a baby comes to the house, it is an adjustment for everybody. It is a good idea too to be sure your dog's nails are trimmed properly to avoid any accidents, as dogs like to put their paws on people at times.
It is a good idea to keep your dog well-groomed too. If you keep the dog clipped and brushed it will certainly help your home stay a little bit cleaner and lower the risk for allergy problems. Studies have shown that children who are around dogs and cats from early in their lives, actually have less trouble with allergies.
Make sure that your dog does not have access to your baby’s room when you are not there..such as at naptimes.
Be sure that you are still spending quality time with your dog and giving him or her attention, as dogs can become jealous easily. Do what you normally did before the baby arrived such as playing in the yard and going for walks.
Teach your child from a young age that they should never play rough or pull on the dog's fur or tail. They must learn to respect the dog. It is also important to teach your child to respect your dog and his or her space in the home.
There are many things you can do to ensure that your kids and your dog can live together happily in the same home. Your children and and your dog need to learn to respect each other from the very beginning. Children and dogs do make great bonds and having a dog in the family greatly enriches the household.
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Teaching Kids And Pets To Co-Exist Peacefully